Federal Communications Commission FCC 21-44 STATEMENT OF ACTING CHAIRWOMAN JESSICA ROSENWORCEL Re: Allocation of Spectrum for Non-Federal Space Launch Operations, ET Docket No. 13-115. On Friday morning, an American space shuttle will cut through the air over the Florida coast, rocketing four astronauts into orbit. On board will be National Aeronautical Space Administration’s Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, Akihiko Hoshide from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Thomas Pesquet from the European Space Agency. Together, they make up NASA’s Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station. Their journey will mark a new day in America’s space program. It is possible, in part, thanks to the Federal Communications Commission. That’s because Crew-2 is the second flight of a NASA-certified commercial system and the second international crew of four to launch on an American commercial spacecraft. These efforts require Special Temporary Authority from the FCC for the spectrum they need for launch communications. So I am thrilled to say that we are able to play a role in this history-making event. But if we really want to reach for the stars, there is more we can do at the FCC to strengthen the future of commercial spaceflight. To understand how, roll back eight years ago. That was when the FCC first determined that providing specific spectrum for commercial space launches was a good idea. Because without it, launch operators would scramble for the spectrum resources they needed on an ad hoc basis. It turns out those early experts at the agency were right. Because in the intervening years while this proposal has been stuck in the bureaucracy of the inter-agency process, ad hoc requests for airwaves for launch purposes have multiplied. This changes here and now. Today we add a new commercial allocation to the 2200-2290 MHz band to support commercial space launches. To build on this progress we seek comment on the use of other spectrum bands for these purposes. We also ask for input on the technical rules and coordination procedures that are required for sharing these airwaves. I want thank our colleagues at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Department of Defense for their willingness to work collaboratively with us on this effort. I know they share our appreciation for the Crew-2 mission. I know they also share our enthusiasm for what is perhaps NASA’s most consequential task—delivering human beings beyond the limits of our skies and then bringing them home again. Thank you to the staff that worked on this effort, including Michael Ha, Ira Keltz, Nick Oros, Siobahn Philemon, Ron Repasi, Dana Shaffer, Tom Struble, and Serey Thai from the Office of Engineering and Technology; Kim Baum, Nese Guendelsberger, Karl Kensinger, Tom Sullivan, and Merissa Velez from the International Bureau; Linda Chang, Rodney Conway, Roger Noel, Catherine Schroeder, Joshua Smith, Sean Spivey, Joel Taubenblatt, and Peter Trachtenberg from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; Rosemary Harold, Jeremy Marcus, and Ashley Tyson from the Enforcement Bureau; Cher Li, Kate Matraves, Giulia McHenry, and Patrick Sun from the Office of Economics and Analytics; and Michelle Ellison, Dave Konczal, Bill Richardson, and Max Staloff from the Office of General Counsel.